This week in Island history

The news of 10 and 15 years ago is from the JamestownPress. The news of 100 years ago came from thecollection of the Newport Historical Society.

100 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, July 24, 1908

The first band concert of the season was given last evening on the upper deck of the Conanicut. The boat carried large crowds during the concert and the cool breeze, after the excessive heat of the day, put the audience in a humor to appreciate the music.

From the Newport Daily News, July 25, 1908

The ferry company's automobile to transfer passengers across the island between the ferries was put in commission today, having had a new engine put in to replace the one recently broken.

From the Newport Daily News, July 27, 1908

Mr. T. Remington Wright is confined to his home from an injury sustained while playing ball recently. He was catching at the time without a chest protector and was hit by a foul tip.

75 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, July 24, 1933

While fishing near Beavertail light, Fred Doran of Fall River hooked a freak of nature in the form of a three-tailed blackfish. While normal in other respects the fish had fully-developed tails growing on either side of its regulation tail. A good deal of attention was attracted to the unusual catch, while Mr. Doran was waiting for the ferry to make his return trip.

From the Newport Daily News, July 27, 1933

Marshall B. Hinckley addressed the (town) council in regard to the town owning a water works plant and also an electric light plant, and offered to submit to the council his correspondence with consulting engineers concerning the matter.

It was voted that a communication from E. L. Phillips of a request that he be granted permission to install two gasoline tanks outside the building on the P. H. Horgan property on Clinton avenue be received and request granted.

50 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, July 25, 1958

Statements made by Herman Gunter, vice president of the Commerce Oil Corp., comparing a refinery in Anacortes, Wash., with the proposed Jamestown oil refinery, were challenged before the Wakefield Rotary Club yesterday in a talk by G. Wightman Williams, vice president of the Narragansett Bay Home Owners Assn.

25 years agoFrom the Newport Daily News, July 22, 1983

The Zoning Board of Review will hear a proposal Tuesday night to tear down the former Harbor View Nursing Home on Conanicus Avenue and to build condominiums there.

From the Newport Daily News, July 26, 1983

The Town Council Monday night took two steps toward preserving more than 150 acres of Jamestown's open space from development. … the Council agreed to consider establishing land trusts with any interested owners of large open tracts. The Council also directed Town Administrator Robert W. Sutton Jr. to work out an agreement to let the state buy another 7 ½ acres of former Navy land at Fort Wetherill - and then lease a portion of it back to the town.

15 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press, July 22, 1993

A nine-hole golf course designed by a world-famous golf course architect may soon be returned to its original beauty and be ready for play in about two years. A restoration project is underway for the Beaver Tail Golf Course, designed by Albert Warren Tillinghast.

The southbound Jamestown exit prior to the Newport Bridge toll plaza will be blocked off today or tomorrow and local traffic will have to use Weeden Lane as a detour.

The use of Melrose Avenue School by outside organizations has led the School Committee to believe that they need to charge a user fee to compensate janitorial staff for the extra workload.

10 years agoFrom the Jamestown Press, July 23, 1998

A completed traffic study on the feasibility of reduc- ing the price of a token on the Newport Bridge was reviewed by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority and local legislators next week.

With a goal of raising the water level in the water tower to 85 feet, Public Works Director Steven Goslee told the Town Council, sitting as the water and sewer board Monday, that the tower level was now just a little over 70 feet.

A recent proposal to construct energy-producing windmills at Beavertail State Park has been unanimously opposed by the park's advisory board.